Pathobiology of Sjögren Syndrome: What do we Know?

Abstract

Sjögren syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disorder that involves exocrine glands and multiple organs. This disorder presumably affects 1.3 million patients in the USA. The pathobiology of Sjögren syndrome has been studied for at least three decades, and reported mechanisms involve the activation of the innate immune system and the development of autoimmunity. The precise mechanisms and sequence of events leading to salivary and ocular dysfunction are still unclear, and apparently multiple pathways and risk factors condition an individual to the disease. This manuscript provides an overview of the current knowledge of the pathobiology underlying Sjögren syndrome.